Rack for wrapping-paper.



J. H. SENNSTROM. RACK FOR WRAPPING PAPER.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 9, 1910.

Patented Sept. 27, 1910.

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JOHN HAROLD SENNSTROIVI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RACK FOR WRAPPING-PAPER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 27, 19).

Application filed May 9, 1910. Serial No. 560,113.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN HAROLD SENN- s'rRoM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Racks for Wrapping-Paper, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a rack or keeper for wrapping paper when furnished in sheets of different sizes, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

As is Well known, in the various kinds of stores, it is necessary to have wrapping paper of difierent sized sheets, so as to meet the requirements in Wrapping smaller or larger articles, or else to have suitably mounted rolls of paper from which portions of the requisite size may be torn. When sheets of different sizes are used, it is customary to keep them in separate piles or groups on a shelf beneath the counter, or to pile the different sized groups one on the other on the counter, from which sheets of the desired size may be taken as needed. The former arrangement requires considerable space as well as several steps back and forth by the salesman, and the latter is ob jectionable on account of the time and care required in selecting and separating the sheets.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a keeper or rack for wrapping paper which shall be compact in form, simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efficient in operation, and so made that sheets of different sizes may be arranged and exposed in separated groups, to the end that one or more sheets may be taken from the group of the desired size, without interference or hindrance by the other groups.

Another object is to provide simple and effective means to be used in connection with the rack for separating the sheets so that a single one may be readily removed from a group of the desired size and without the annoyance of having them stick together as ordinarily.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains, to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1, is a perspective View of a rack or keeper for wrapping paper embodying one form of the invention, showing a number of groups of wrapping paper of different sized sheets in place on the supports therefor; Fig. 2, is an enlarged side view of the upper portion of the rack, showing one of the means for separating one of the sheets from a group of sheets, and illustrating by dotted lines the action of said means; Fig. 3, is an end view of the rack, shortened for convenience of illustration, and illustrating a modification in the means for separating the sheets of the various groups; and Fig. 4, is a similar View of the upper portion of the rack, showing another modification in the means for separating the sheets.

Like numerals of reference, refer to like parts in the different views of the drawing.

The reference numeral 7, designates the base of the rack, which may be of any suitable size, form and material, but is preferably made rectangular and of wood, and has at one of its ends an upright 8, which by preference has its upper edge inclined as at 9, from one of its side edges to the other. Mounted on the upper surface of the base 7, and at suitable distances apart, are a series of supports, 10, which are substantially of an inverted U-shape and are disposed longitudinally with respect to the base and in parallelism with one another. These supports are preferably made of wire, each bent to form three sides of a rectangular figure, and ordinarily have their free ends inserted in suitable openings in the base 7, as shown in the drawing, so that they will stand in upright positions and are for the purpose of receiving groups or bunches of sheets of wrapping paper 11, of different sizes. The base 7, of the rack, is adapted to lie on the counter with its upright portion 8, disposed at or near the front of the counter, thus leaving the end of the rack at the rear of the counter open, so that the sheets 11, of paper, may be withdrawn from the supports therefor, by the wrapper or salesman.

Secured to the upper portion of the upright 8, and usually on the front surface thereof by means of staples 12, are a number of arms 13, each of which is preferably made of wire possessing considerable resiliency and are extended from the upright 8, rearwardly and directly over the supports 10, to near the rear ends of said supports. In the present instance each of the arms 13, is shown as being provided with a coil spring 1 1, located just above the upper end of the upright 8, so as to normally hold the free ends of the spring arms in raised positions with respect to the groups of sheets of paper on the supports therefor. It is obvious, however, that the coil 14:, may be omitted, and that the arms 13, will still have suitable resiliency or enough to raise their free ends from the groups of paper, but by furnishing each of the arms 13, with a coil or coils 1%, it is evident that greater resiliency will be afforded. Each of the arms 13, is provided near its free end with a depending portion 15, from which is projected an extension 16, which is inclined upwardly toward its free end and has said end furnished with an upward projection 17, or stop. Loosely mounted on each of the extensions 16, is a block or knob 18, each of which is preferably provided with an opening through which the extension 16, is extended so as to permit the block or knob 18, to be moved freely back and forth thereon. Each of the blocks 18, is provided on its lower portion with an engaging device 19, for the sheets of paper 11, which engaging device in the present instance, consists of what is known as artists gum, and may be glued or otherwise secured to the block.

By the foregoing arrangement, it is manifestthat the spring arms 13, will be normally held in the positions shown in Fig. 1,

i and by continuous lines in Fig. 2, and that the blocks 18, will be disposed directly over the groups of sheets of paper. When it is desired to remove a single sheet from one of the groups, this may be done by depressing one of the blocks 18, and arms 13, until the engaging device on the former, contacts with the paper, when by sliding the block 18, outwardly, on its extension 16, the uppermost sheet will be moved rearwardly to about the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, thus freeing or separating its rear portion from the group andpermitting it to be grasped between the thumb and the finger, and taken from the group without interference by the other sheets. In this operation the block 18 will be slid to the outer end of the extension 16, and prevent detachment therefrom by means of the stop or upward projection 17, at the outer end of the extension. As soon as the pressure is removed, from the block and arm, the latter will be raised by reason of its resiliency and as the extension 16, is downwardly inclined from its free end, the block 18 will slide downwardly thereon until stopped by the depending portion 15, and will be ready for engagement with another sheet of paper at some distance from the rear edge of said sheet.

Instead of using the horizontally disposed arms of the construction shown in Figs. 1, and 2, of the drawing and above described, I may provide the base 7, between the supports 10, thereon, with upright resilient rods 20, each having near its upper end a stop 21, on which the blocks 18, which are movably mounted on the upper portions of the rods 20, may normally rest. These blocks and their engaging devices 19, may be of.

the same construction as those shown in Figs. 1, and 2, and above described. In employing this modification in the construction of the sheet separators, it will be understood that the rods 20, are mounted near the rear ends of the groups 11, of sheets and that the blocks 18, will be located near the upper portion of said groups so that they may be reached and slid upwardly on the rods 20, when said rods may be sprung so that the engaging devices 19, on the blocks, may engage the outer sheet of a group and be moved rearwardly until a portion of the sheet is separated from its group, when it may be taken therefrom.

In Fig. 1*, of the drawing, is shown another modification in the construction of the means for separating the sheets which consists in providing the base near the rear end of one of the supports 10, with an upright standard 22, on the upper end of which is journaled a pulley 23, over which is passed a cord 2 1, having at one of its ends a weight 25, and at its other end a block 18, to which the cord 24-, may be secured in any suitable manner. This block may be provided with an engaging device of any suitable material, but in the present instance is shown as being provided with serrations 26, to engage the sheets. In using the modification now under consideration, it will be understood that the weight 25, on the cord 24, will normally hold the block 18, in the position shown by continuous lines in Fig. 4, but when it is desired to use the block and its engaging device for separating the sheets, the block may be caught between the thumb and finger, and moved to the desired group, when by pressing the engaging device 26, against the upper sheet of said group and sliding the same rearwardly, said sheet will be separated at its rear edge or end so that it may be grasped between the finger and thumb, and removed from its group. In this operation, as soon as the block 18, is released, the weight 25, on the cord 24, will cause the block 18, to assume its normal position where it will be found ready for use When desired. It will be understood that the blocks 18, may be provided with any suitable kind of engaging means such as artists gum, abrasive material, or toothed or serrated.

Having thus fully described my invention. What I claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is-

1. A rack for Wrapping paper consisting of a base, an upright and substantially rectangular support mounted thereon, and retro-active means provided With a device adapted to engage the sheets of paper When located on the support, said means and e11- gaging device supported normally out of contact With the sheets of paper.

2. A rack for Wrapping paper consisting of a base, a plurality of upright and sub stantially rectangular supports mounted thereon and spaced one from the other, re-

silient members extended at one of their ends near the upper ends of the supports, and a block provided With sheet-engaging means movably mounted on each of said members near their free ends.

3. A rack for Wrapping paper consisting of a base, a plurality of upright and substantially rectangular supports mounted thereon and spaced one from the other, a resilient arm suitably supported at one of its ends and extended longitudinally over each of the supports and having a downwardly inclined extension near its free end, and a. block provided With sheet-engaging means movably mounted on each of said extensions.

JOHN HAROLD SENNSTROM.

CHAS. C. TILLMAN. 

